Japan & Pakistan Complete Asian Games Team Semi-Final Line-Ups

30 Aug 2018

Today's final Squash qualifying action in the Asian Games Team Championships in Indonesia saw the women's team of Japan and the Pakistan men's team complete the semi-finals line-up at the Gelora Bung Karno Sports Complex in Jakarta.

Fourth seeds Japan faced rivals Republic of Korea to decide the second position in the women's Pool A - and a place in the last four knockout stage.

Honours were shared after the first two matches - Misaki Kobayashi winning for Japan before Ji-Hyun Lee levelled the tie for Korea. Teenager Satomi Watanabe clinched victory for the fourth seeds after defeating the Korean number one Yura Choi 11-7, 11-8, 12-10 - an emotional victory which put Japan into the semi-finals, with the certainty of a medal, for the first time.

It was in Pool A of the men's event that fourth seeds Pakistan battled with Republic of Korea for the final place in the other semi-final line-up. The 2010 gold medallists achieved their goal in style - Asim Khan, Tayyab Aslam and Israr Ahmed all beating their Korean opposition to secure second place in the pool.

The key clash in Pool B saw No.2 seeds India and third seeds Malaysia - both of whom were already certain of semi-final berths - go head-to-head for top position in the pool. Underdogs Malaysia clinched victory after wins by Eain Yow Ng and Ivan Yuen, second and third strings, respectively - but Indian number one Saurav Ghosal restored pride in the team by winning the third match, defeating Nafiizwan Adnan 11-5, 9-11, 11-8, 12-14, 11-7 in 58 minutes.

Meanwhile Indonesia's women's team showed their promise by recording their third shock win in Pool B. Seeded 10, the hosts beat Thailand 3/0 to record a hugely-impressive third-place finish in the Pool in their maiden appearance in the event.